TAGGED AS: Film, films, movie, movies, Podcast, Star Wars
(Photo by ©20th Century Fox Film Corp.)
When it debuted in 1977, George Lucas’ Star Wars became a cinematic phenomenon unlike anything we’d ever seen before, and its legacy can be felt to this day in the multimedia juggernaut it inspired. Its follow-up, 1980’s Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, turned the first film into a bona fide saga and became widely regarded not only as one of the best sequels of all time, but even better than the first. And while the finale of the Original Trilogy, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, earned relatively strong reviews, for many years — at least until we got the prequels of the 2000s — it was considered the weakest link among the three. As we celebrate May the 4th — exhibit A in the case for the first film’s enduring pop culture relevance — maybe it’s time to reconsider that.
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Regular host Mark Ellis is joined this week by a pair of appropriately die-hard Star Wars fans to discuss the merits — or lack thereof — of Return of the Jedi. First up is returning guest Ken Napzok, stand-up comedian, co-host of the the ForceCenter Podcast, and author of the book Why We Love Star Wars. And making her “RT Is Wrong” debut is actress, host, and film critic at The Movie Couple, Wendy Lee Szany.
Ken admits that he thinks Return of the Jedi’s 83% Tomatometer score is “fair” but feels it should be a little higher. Wendy remembers being blown away by the movie as a kid in Taiwan and believes its Tomatometer score is “certainly wrong;” she likewise would like to see it a few rungs higher. Mark, though, is on another level altogether: Not only is Return of the Jedi his favorite Star Wars movie, it is his absolute favorite movie of all time. You can guess where lands in this debate. Tune in to hear the trio talk about the nostalgia factor of the film, their favorite scenes, the overarching themes, and of course, the Ewoks.
Check in every Thursday for a new episode of Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong (A Podcast From Rotten Tomatoes). Each week, hosts Jacqueline and Mark and guests go deep and settle the score on some of the most beloved – and despised – movies and TV shows ever made, directly taking on the statement we hear from so many fans: “Rotten Tomatoes is wrong.”
Check out some more episodes of Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong:
If you have a suggestion for a movie or show you think we should do an episode on, let us know in the comments, or email us at rtiswrong@rottentomatoes.com.
Meet the hosts
Jacqueline Coley is an editor at Rotten Tomatoes, with a focus on awards and indie coverage but with a passion for everything, from the MCU to musicals and period pieces. Coley is a regular moderator at conventions and other events, can be seen on Access Hollywood and other shows, and will not stand Constantine slander of any kind. Follow Jacqueline on Twitter: @THATjacqueline.
Mark Ellis is a comedian and contributing editor for Rotten Tomatoes. He currently hosts the Rotten Tomatoes series Versus, among others, and can be seen co-hosting the sports entertainment phenomenon Movie Trivia Schmoedown. His favorite Star Wars movie is Jedi (guess which one!), his favorite person is actually a dog (his beloved stepdaughter Mollie), and – thanks to this podcast – he’s about to watch Burlesque for the first time in his life. Follow Mark on Twitter: @markellislive.
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